Jugs, and bottles and bags, oh my! The negative impacts of plastic on our environment have gone viral in recent years, yet we continue to rely on it for everyday products and activities. Garbage on the streets often ends up in our waterways, and the vast majority of marine debris is plastic that gets eaten by birds and marine animals, poisoning the food chain. But as long as these non-biodegradable materials are being produced, we will keep using them in our homes, offices and industries.

Plastic isn’t going away anytime soon, but it can be used and reused in smarter ways. Some groups are working to remedy the mess by promoting recycling, organizing beach clean-ups and educating citizens about ocean gyres like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, known as the world’s largest landfill. Others hope to stop the problem at its source by engineering biodegradable and sustainable solutions to replace our plastic addiction. With 80 percent of marine waste originating on land, experts agree garbage must be managed on land. Is plastic the problem, or is it just the way we use it? Could we be entering the golden age of garbage?

Join us for a conversation with researchers and entrepreneurs working to curb the growing tide of waste in our waterways.